Commercial Development Plan Tabled In Weisenberg Township

After listening to objections from residents, Weisenberg Township supervisors voted yesterday to table an ordinance that would have created a commercial district in the community.

Before making the decision, the supervisors heard, during a public hearing, the comments of some 40 township residents who are opposed to the development.

All of those who spoke up said that, if built, the new development on 48-acres of farmland near Route 863 and Interstate 78 would bring traffic congestion, put pressure on the community's services and ruin the rural environment.

Also at the meeting was William Schantz, attorney for the J and M Farms project, whose owners and developers are based in New York.

Schantz told the residents that the area would not be turned into another Lehigh Valley Mall.

Residents asked Schantz what would be built in the area if the ordinance were passed.

Schantz said a "planned neighborhood convenience center" would be among the things that could be built.

"That's a mall," many of the residents said.

Citing the residents' concern, Supervisor J Palmer Balliet moved to table the measure; the motion was seconded by outgoing Supervisor Arlan Bittner.

During the hearing, Tom Wehr, who is scheduled to become a supervisor at the board's February meeting, said the Wildlife Conservancy could be consulted for advice on how to make such a development fit in with the communities' rural surroundings.

"We had an inkling this would happen," said Don Davis, chairman of the board of supervisors. "But we wanted to see what the community says."

Davis said the supervisors will research the plan and also seek the Wildlife Conservancy's input.

Russell Fister said he grew up in the area and would like to see it remain as it is.

"I think they should table this permanently," Fister said. "I like farmland and I don't think we need it."

He said that once a commercial development is constructed, a residential development would also spring up, adding more stress on the community's roads, services and other facilities.

"It'll increase the load on the services, including the load on the school system," Fister said. "It'll just change the course of events in a way that is not in the best interest of the majority of residents.... I just don't see any point in it."